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The Bibble Memoirs. 

BEING POHTIOX3 OF THE 

JOURNAL 

or 

CHARLES BIBBLE, ESQ., 

First Yalet>de-Chambre to the Head Cook of 

HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, 

AND SUBSEQUENTLY 

Third Waiter-in-Ordinary A t the Table of Ills Majesty. 



"A journal, to be good, true, and interesting, should be written without 
the slightest reference to publication, but without any fear of it. . . I 
always contemplate the possibility that hereafter my journal will be read." 

Qeeyillb Memoirs. 






r 

New-York: .,, ^v. 



- «> 



A. DEXHAM & CO., 17 MURRAY STREET? 

1875. 



■~B5d 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

A. DENIIAM & CO,, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PREFACE 

I- 



It affords us great pleasure to be able to lay 
before au inquiring public the following portions 
of a contemporary record of Court Life during 
the reign of George IV. At the present time, 
when there prevails such an intelligent thirst for 
knowledge, such a laudable desire to compre- 
hend in its fullest extent, and to investigate in its 
minutest'particulars, each and every incident that 
marked this most instructive and edifying period 
of English history, it is thought that these pre- 
cious fragments will not be unwelcome to the 
historical student. 

We are aware that some persons, with narrow 
and short-sighted views, have presumed to cha- 
racterize this praiseworthy spirit of inquiry as " a 
love for gossip," " for tittle-tattle," and even to 
speak of it in harsher and more opprobrious 
terms. To reason with such persons is in vain ; 



IV PREFACE. 

the reception accorded to works of a similar 
nature to this is the best answer to their carping 
remarks. 

Of the author of this work, we may note that 
from his residence at the Royal Palace and his 
daily contact with his Sovereign, he was pecu- 
liarly qualified to hand down to posterity just 
these minor particulars which are so dear to the 
truth-loving mind in after generations. If the 
information that Mr. Greville extracted from the 
valet-de-chambre of the King and has recorded 
in his most valuable journal, has been deemed of 
entrancing interest, of what value must be the 
daily observations of a waiter at the table of His 
Majesty ? 

It only remains for the Editor to add that 
other portions of this journal are in his hands, but 
are for the present withheld out of respect for 
the feelings of some of the noblest families of the 
realm. The Editoe, 



JOURNAL. 



July lo, 1819. — I have resolved to keep a 
Journal ; for as I have frequent opportunities of 
mixing in the society of celebrated men, some 
particulars about them — and about myself — 
might be interesting hereafter. 

I have now held the responsible office of First 
Valet-de-chambre to the Head Cook of his Sacred 
Majesty King George the Fourth for some months, 
and, in that time, by frequent intercourse with 
the gentlemen who are connected with the nobili- 
ty, who render them services in consideration of a 
monthly stipend — by continuous intercourse with 
these gentlemen, many interesting historical facts 
are communicated to me, of which I would not 
willingly have posterity remain ignorant. Besides 
these opportunities, these "feasts of reason and 
these flows of souls " (as the poet strikingly terms 
them) which take place below-stairs while the 
other gentlemen and ladies up-stairs are engaged, 
I dare say, in talking scandal — a habit I never 
could abide, although I am sorry to say it is 



6 THE EIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

practised in the highest places — besides these 
evening reunions, it has happened to me several 
times to serve as a supernumerary waiter at the 
royal entertainments, at which times I have, more 
than once, found myself in the presence of, and 
face to face with, my gracious Sovereign, the 
great and good King George the Fourth. 

July 26, 1819. — This day, I may say, is the 
proudest of my life, and as I take my pen to re- 
cord the event which has made me the happiest of 
men, I almost weep with joy and exultation to 
think that one day posterity will know that the 
monarch of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Isle 
of Man deigned to speak familiarly to me. 

His Majesty met me in a corridor leading to his 
apartments, and, in my confusion, almost dazzled 
by the eifulgence of his kingly countenance, I 
stood still — I could not move, I could only gaze 
with awe. And then his Sacred Majesty, the 
Defender of the Faith, condescended to address 
to me those ever-to-be-cherished words, 

" D you, get out of my way !" 

I can add no more ; my heart is full — to thinl 

that I, Charles Bibble, have been d d by the 

King of England. 

July 30, 1819.— The Duke of Wellington called 
upon his Majesty to-day, but, it being only two 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 7 

o'clock in the afternoon, his Majesty of course 
had not yet arisen from his regal couch. Sir 
William Knighton not being at hand, no one else 
would take the responsibility of arousing his 
Majesty, so that his Grace the Duke departed 
without an interview. Within an hour, a courier 
arrived with a dispatch from his Grace to his 
Majesty. This dispatch subsequently came un- 
der my observation. It read : 

u Apsley House, July 30, 1819. 
" I regret to have to inform your Majesty that 
the spirit of anarchy stalks abroad. Two of the 
windows of the residence of the Commander-in- 
Chief of your Majesty' s forces were broken last 
night by missiles — to wit, two bricks and one 
stone — by a turbulent and disorderly mob con- 
sisting of three persons. One of these was provi- 
dentially captured by your Majesty' s ever- vigilant 
police force. He was a boot-black ! I have made 
application to the civil powers that he be handed 
over to the military authorities, for trial and exe- 
cution. The two other revolutionists unfortu- 
nately escaped. I would suggest to your Majesty 
that you immediately summon a special Cabinet 
•"Council to deliberate upon this grave state of 
? affairs, and to take vigorous measures thereupon. 
Or, which would be preferable, that your Majesty 
should issue a proclamation declaring such par- 



8 THE B1B13LE MEMOIRS. 

ties to be banditti and outlaws. This would 
probably be sufficient to check such heinous 
offences, as I shall immediately place the whole 
available military force of your Majesty's domi- 
nions in pursuit of the miscreants. 

"I herewith have the honor to hand your 
Majesty, for your Majesty's signature, an order 
for the execution of the ruffian who is in custody. 
His trial will take place this afternoon. 
' ' I have the honor to be 

"Wellington, 
' ' Commander-in-Chief" 

December 20, 1819. — There was a large and 
elegant party of the highest respectability in our 
reception-rooms below- stairs this evening. There 
were present the gentlemen of H. R. H. the Duke 
of York, of H. R. H. the Duke of Cumberland, 
of the Most Noble the Marchioness of Conyng- 
ham, of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and 
of many others too numerous to mention. The 
conversation was general, and many interesting 
historical particulars were given of the noble per- 
sons with whom the gentlemen present were 
connected. I would that my memory were more 
retentive, and that I had more particulars which 
I could set down with entire confidence in their 
accuracy. The following, however, may be im- 
plicitly relied on by the future historian : 



THE BIBBLE MEM0IK3. V? 

His Grace the Duke of Wellington's usually 
placid disposition was disturbed this morning on 
finding the left side of his right boot almost en- 
tirely unblacked. His Grace breakfasted upon 
two hard-boiled eggs, a dish of tea and buttered 
toast. His Royal Highness the Duke of York 
lost seventeen shillings and threepence at whist 
on the evening of Tuesday, December 18th. A 
misunderstanding arose between his Majesty and 
the Marchioness of Conyngham on the 16th inst., 
but the entente cordiale was subsequently res- 
tored, so that a threatened revolution in the state 
is prevented or at least deferred. Lord Liver- 
pool's valet-de-chambre informs me that upon 
the noble lord' s retiring the night previous, his 
lordship kicked one of his lordship' s boots with 
great violence across the room ; and from this 
circumstance he — the valet — inferred that diffi- 
culties of a grave nature had arisen at the Cabinet 
meeting that day. 

I should hesitate to set down and thus consign 
to posterity the following most astounding piece 
of historical information, did it not come to me 
from the most trustworthy sources ; for I had it 
from my Lord Conyngham' s gentleman, who had 
it from the valet of the Duke of Wellington, to 
whom it was imparted in strict confidence by the 
First Waiter of H. R. H. the Duke of York, who 



10 THE BIBBLE 'MEMOIRS. 

received his information direct from the Head 
Cook of 



[This space is left blank, as the matter it origi- 
nally contained wonld most seriously compromise 
the reputation of some of the noblest families of 
England. At the last moment, as we go to press, 
we have been prevailed upon, by very strong re- 
presentations, to suppress this statement ; and no 
earthly power, short of a Congressional Inquiry, 
shall ever tear the secret from our breast. Still 
more — even should such a Committee of Inquiry 
order us to reveal this secret, we would here state 
that before obeying we would take legal advice 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 11 

as to whether such action on our part would not 
be a violation of the duty which we owe our 
clients. We do not say this for the purpose of 
BilKing congressional curiosity or to Shew Makers 
of our laws an improper spirit of independence, 
but solely to put ourselves right upon the record. 
We may add that the above-mentioned represen- 
tations were " broken up" sometime since, in a 
very careful manner. — Editor.] 

January 7, 1820.— For some time past, there 
has been a tinge of unpleasantness in my rela- 
tions with my employer, the Head Cook of his 
Majesty. Not but what his service is all that 
could be desired, and but what his manners are 
most gentlemanly and, I may say, friendly. He 
has but one fault — it is a grave one, he does not 
pay. At least, he does not pay my salary in 
cash, but gives me in what he terms payment 
little slips of paper which he has had printed, 
bearing the inscription, 

"GEORGE BUFFUS, HEAD COOK, ETC. 

WILL PAT TO BEARER " 

And then follows the sum due. 

Now, it is very injurious to the feelings to have 
him say, " Charles, come into my office and I will 
settle your account ;" and then to have him give 
me a number of these slips of paper, and say. 



12 THE EIEBLE MEMOIRS. 

" Now, Charles, our accounts being settled to 
date, what will you take ?" And then he reaches 
down a bottle most affably. 

And if I ask him when he is going to pay as 
he promises to do upon these slips of paper, he 
smiles amicably and tells me he will do it when 
he resumes specie payments. And then he says, 
" Why ! Charles, they are just as good as cash ; 
for you know it says on the back of them that I 
will take them myself in pajanent for every thing 
— except for those things I have to sell." For he 
will kindly sell us from the King' s cellar, at half- 
price, wines and any thing else of that kind we 
want. 

"And besides," he continues, "any of the 
dealers from whom I buy the supplies for the 
Royal Kitchen will take them in payment from 
3^011." And this was true ; for he had the buying 
of all the Royal supplies, and the store-keepers 
with whom he dealt would take from us these notes 
of his in payment of all little debts, for fear of 
losing the Royal trade. And then I told him that 
the Tradesmen to his Majesty would indeed take 
these notes, but that they charged me a good 
deal more for any thing I bought, than they would 
if I paid cash. And then I went on to tell him 
that if I tried to pay a bill with them in any out- 
side store, the dealer would tell me that he did 
not want those pieces of paper — that he wanted 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. . 13 

cash. And this lie could not deny. And then I 
told him that I thought he ought to take these 
promises of his in payment for any supplies we 
purchased from him. And he answered, and ex- 
plained in a very friendly manner, 

"Why ! Charles, if I take these promises of 
mine in payment forwhat I sell, how in the world 
am I going to get the money to pay the interest 
on those other notes of mine, which are outstand- 
ing ; for you know I have had to borrow money 
at interest, and pretty large interest too !" 

"Why," said I, "pay those parties who hold 
your interest-bearing notes with these promises 
without interest with which you pay me." 

"Ah Charles!" says he, "don't you suppose 
I thought of that 1 But the moment I spoke of it— 
whew ! It won't work, Charles ; it won't work." 
And he shook his head sadly. 

" But," I insisted, " they could not help them- 
selves." 

" No more they could, Charles," he answered ; 
"but suppose, just suppose for a minute that I 
paid them in that way ; and then some day I 
wanted some more money, and that I went to them 
again to borrow it — what would they say, Charles, 
what would they say !" 

"You couldn't raise a penny, if you put a 

dozen syndicates to work," I answered gloomily. 

" I know it, Charles ; I know it," he said in a 



14 THE BII313LE MEMOIRS. 

melancholy way, as lie reached down the bottle 
again. "Ah! you little know the cares and 
anxieties of an exalted position." 

And then I plucked up courage just to tell him 
the truth, and I placed my hand on my heart, and 
I said, " Mr. Buffus, will you hear me speak the 
truth 1" 

To which he replied that for the originality of 
the thing he would. 

So I went on impressively, " The fact is, Mr. 
Buffus, that you live too high—pardon me for 
saying so, "but you live too high. You have too 
many fast horses, and fine clothes, and you have 
three valets, where one would answer you just as 
well. And so you are continually in debt ; and 
you have hard work paying the interest on your 
notes, and gracious only knows how you are 
going to pay the principal when it comes due. 
And you have been scattering these promises" — 
and here I took a handful of them out of my 
pocket — "and I have a lot of them, and your 
other valets have a lot of them, and the cooks 
have a lot of them, and the tradesmen with 
whom you deal have a lot of them ; and you 
may talk just as long as you please, and try to 
make us believe that they are money, but they 
an't money " 

And here he interrupted me and said plain- 
tively, " But, Charles, you know they are just as 



THE BILBLE MKM0IBS. 15 

good as gold. Yon know that I will pay them 
all, when I resume specie payment." 

And I smiled. 

"And besides," he added, "I have paid off 
some of my interest-hearing notes, and if it were 
not for these hard times " 

And then I felt moved jnst to tell him that I 
did not think it fair for him to pay off those 
notes, while he left me with his promises to pay, 
from which I received no interest. 

And it was then that he smiled. 

"But," he resumed, " I have thought this all 
over, and I will tell yon what I am going to do. 
I am going to fukd my debt." 

"Are you, indeed?" said I, for it sounded very 
nice, though I did not know what he meant by 
"funding." 

"Yes," he continued, "only I can't makeup 
my mind upon what plan to do it. Wow, there is 
the 3.65 plan ; what do you think of that V 9 

Now, I did not want to appear ignorant, so I told 
him that it was a good plan, an excellent plan, a 
plan which did honor to the heart of any one who 
concocted it : but that in my humble opinion it 
wouldn't work. 

Then he held his head in both his hands, and he 
sighed. At last he looked up with a determined 
air and said, " Charles, you are a good fellow ; 
your social qualities are such as I admire ; be- 



10 THE EIEELE MEMOIRS. 

sides, yon have worked Lard for me, and I ought 
to do something for yon." 

At this I smiled with a prospective gratitude. 

"I'll tell you what I will do," he continued. 
"I will appoint you my Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer, my First Lord of the Treasury, and we 
will here and now determine upon some plan of 
resumption." 

"But," I objected modestly, "I don't know 
any thing at all about finance." 

"That makes no difference," rejoined he. 
" You will do just aBout as Well as if you did. 
It isn't knowledge of finance which is required — 
it is an inventive genius. It is not a plan of 
resumption we need— it is a plan to make folks 
believe that we are going to resume." 

" If that is all," said I, " why don't you just 
say that in five years from to-day you will 
positively resume specie payments ?" 

" But no one would believe me," said he. 

"Well," I rejoined, "you can make that the 
grand outline of your plan, and you can fill up 
the minor details with so many devices for con- 
traction and funding and other hard words that 
no one will understand you." 

"Egad!" said he, "how could they, when I 
don't understand them myself? But your plan 
is the most valuable of all hitherto suggested. I 
adopt it unanimously, and in return for your 



THE BIBELE MEMOIRS. 17 

valued suggestions, I herewith tender you— my 
thanks." " 

]STow, I was disgusted with the emptiness of 
his gratitude, and I responded with dignity, 
"Allow me to tender you my compliments and 
my resignation of the office of your first valet-de- 
chambre." 

" I should he sorry to lose you, Charles," said 
he mournfully. "What do you think of doing V 

And I told him how I had the offer of the office 
of Third Waiter-in-ordinary at the table of his 
Sacred Majesty. And he again reached down 
the bottle, and said feelingly, 

"Well, Charles, good-by. You will go on 
your way to regal banquets, while I will settle 
down to a course of strict frugality, to prepare 
myself for the resumption of specie payment." 

"Yes, in five years from date," I said. 

" In five years," he rejoined. 

And this time we both smiled. 



February 12, 1S20.— I this day received my 
commission as Third Waiter-in-ordinary at the 
table of his Majesty. The dearest wish of my 
heart will thus be gratified — to daily bask in the 
radiance of my Sovereign's gracious presence — 
to listen to the words of wisdom which drop from 
his lips, as from those of a second Solomon, a 



18 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

monarch to whom his Majesty is often and justly 
compared. 

I feel that a new era has commenced in my 
existence ; that my views of life will be larger 
and higher than heretofore ; that Charles Bibble 
will no longer linger in a chrysalis state, but will 
bloom forth a full-fledged butterfly. 

February 24, 1820.— This day his Excellen- 
cy, the Minister from Patagonia, dined with us. 
Although his Excellency has served with great 
distinction in both the military and parliament- 
ary services of his native country, yet, when he 
first landed on these shores, his name was but 
little known. His Emmanent services in pro- 
moting the development of the vast resources of 
his country have since, however, touched the 
tenderest susceptibilities of many of our country- 
men, and have spread his reputation from one 
end of England to the other. 

After dinner, his Excellency discoursed learn- 
edly, with practical illustrations, upon a curious 
recreation in vogue, in his own country, and 
termed by him the Game of Poker. We here 
play, as is well known, for half-pennies only, but 
even at these small stakes the game seemed very 
exciting, and all of the distinguished company 
present were soon deeply immersed in it. When 
his Excellency at length turned to leave, the 



THE KIBBLE MEMOIES. 10 

charming and volatile Duchess Dowager of Mont- 
morency-on-the-Thames requested him to reduce 
to writing the rules of the game. 

I may insert in this place, what I only learned 
some little time afterward, that the Duchess 
Dowager was so much pleased with his Excel- 
lency's prompt and full compliance with her 
playful request, that she has had printed, for 
private circulation among the nolbility and gentry, 
a neat edition of these " Rules of the Game of 
Poker." Copies are to be beautifully bound and 
presented to the authorities of his Excellency's 
country, and to the crowned heads of Europe. 

This is here considered an excellent example 
for the ministers of other powers ; and we all feel 
grateful to that nation which has sent us a repre- 
sentative who can thus cast off the cares of state, 
and unbend so far as to afford amusement to 
an evening party, and afterward to a whole 
nation. 

A copy of this work falling for a few minutes 
under my observation, I copy the opening para- 
graphs : 

"Ladies and Gentlemen : It is with feelings of 
satisfaction which I would in vain labor to dissi- 
mulate, that I have the honor of introducing 
among you a favorite and innocent amusement, 
which occupies the leisure moments of many of 
the most eminent of my own land. If, when I 



20 THE EIEBLE MEMOIKS. 

leave your hospitable hearths, this charming 
recreation shall have gained a foothold among 
yon— if those poetic terms of 'ante,' 'flush,' 
'two-pair,' 'straight,' 'full-hand,' shall have 
"become household words to you, I shall feel 
that I have not lived in vain, that I have per- 
formed my mission, and that the wind that fills 
the sails of the ship which "bears me from your 
shores will waft toward me those feelings of 
gratitude and esteem which I know will fill 
your hearts. 

" I shall have no opportunity more appropriate 
than this, in which to express my thanks for the 
reception you have given me. When I came 
among you, I was a stranger, and I took you in ; 
you gave me your confidence, you trusted to my 
direction, you opened your hearts and your 
hands. Thoughts like these will ever be a well- 
spring of comfort to me ; a mine— if I may be 
allowed the figure of speech— a mine of solid 
enjoyment. 

"But to turn to the sub j ect on hand. When the 
ancient orator, Bucephalus, was asked what was 
the first quality necessary for an orator, he an- 
swered, ' Audacity.' 'And the second ? ' continued 
the inquirer. 'Audacity,' answered the sage. 
' And the third ? ' persisted the questioner. ' Still, 
audacity.' In like manner, ladies and gentle- 
men, would I answer your inquiries concerning 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIES. 2 1 

the prime requisite for tins noble game. ( Cheek ' 
— < Cheek'—' Plenty of Cheek.' Without that 
quality, hands will be in vain, flushes will pale, 
full hands will become empty, straights will wax 
crooked, and you will see your antes depart in a 
continuous stream, until, in the pockets of your 
opponents, they will become very distant relations 
indeed." 

At this point, to my deep regret, my studies 
of this edifying treatise were interrupted. 

Febeuaey 2(3, 1820.— An interesting incident 
occurred this afternoon in the House of Com- 
mons. During the course of an animated debate, 
the honorable member from Notts took occasion 
to epithetize the honorable member from Essex 
as "an ill-mannered dog." The Speaker with 
much dignity stopped the debate, and inquired 
of the member from Notts, whether he intended 
those words to be personal. The member from 
Notts responded that they were by no means per- 
sonal, but that he meant them to apply to the 
member from Essex. 

The honorable member from Trent hereupon 
arose, and with calm dignity stated his profound 
conviction that those words could not be consi- 
dered in any sense parliamentary. He further 
stated that if such epithets were allowed to be 
used within these hallowed precincts, representa- 



22 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

tive government might be considered to be 
doomed — yes, lie would say, doomed — and that 
the homicidal grasp of a now repressed but ever 
vigilant and revengeful faction would soon close 
around their respectable throats. He would 
state that it was with no feelings of anger that he 
said this ; for his part, he bore no ill-will to any 
one ; he was at peace with all mankind ; he was 
calm ; he was very calm ; but his heart burned 
within him when he saw and heard such a mali- 
cious and unprovoked assault made upon the 
honorable member from Essex — a member whose 
mild and loving disposition was known to them 
all ; who was never known to utter a harsh word 
when thus maligned ; whose parliamentary career 
had been as honorable to him as had his military ; 
and who, after his long and creditable labors in 
the service of his country, was now — through no 
fault of his own — about to retire into compara- 
tive seclusion. A seclusion which would not be 
— might he venture to express the hope — so com- 
plete as to prevent his displaying, within a nar- 
rower sphere, all those qualities of mind and heart 
which had so endeared him to his countrymen, 
which had made his name a household word, a 
cherished remembrance, to be handed down with 
just pride from generation to generation. In 
conclusion, he would move, in order to mark the 
stern disapproval of the House of any such dis- 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 23 

graceful language — might lie say disgraceful? — 
that the member from Notts be exrjelled from the 
House. 

The member from York here arose and begged 
leave to remind the speaker and the honorable 
members that exactly one year and five days pre- 
vious, the honorable member from Trent had, in 
the course of a debate, within these same hallowed 
precincts, stated that the honorable member from 
Stoke-Pogis was, in his opinion, " a disgraceful 
dog." 

The honorable member from Trent then arose 
again, and, with a benign and peaceful expres- 
sion stealing over his countenance, said, " Breth- 
ren, let us not rake into the ashes of the past." 

But they would rake ; and the more they 
raked, the more benign and peaceful did the 
countenance of the honorable member from Trent 
become. 

The member from Notts was subsequently 
brought to the Bar of the House, and received a 
warm admonition from the Speaker. 

February 28, 1820.— This day his Majesty 
entertained at dinner a large and very distin- 
gue party. Many of the highest nobility were 
present, nor were the intellectual and literary 
worlds wholly unrepresented. It was, however, 
a matter of great surprise to all that Brougham 



24 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

should be present, as his Majesty's dislike to liim 
is no secret — and no wonder, after the manner in 
which he treated his Majesty during his Majesty's 
late unpleasantness with his Majesty's royal con- 
sort. 

His Majesty presided at the head of the table, 
and was supported at the foot by the Duke of 
Wellington. After the cloth was removed, Mount 
Charles arose and begged leave to offer a toast. 
He would state, and he knew the distinguished 
company present would believe him, that his 
gratitude toward his Majesty was no empty feel- 
ing, that it was a substantial, solid gratitude, a 
gratitude constantly kept alive and burning 
brightly — and the fuel was replenished quarterly. 
Might he offer, as a toast, his gracious Sovereign, 
King George the Fourth, whom we revere as a 
Monarch, and whom we cherish, admire, and 
love as a Man \ 

At this moment, a harsh and discordant sound 
was heard, and, to the surprise of all, and to the 
evident displeasure of his Majesty, Brougham 
was seen advancing to the head of the table, 
chanting as he came, 



Monarch ! good and great, 
Preserver of the State, 

1 love thy curly pate, 
King George, my King ! 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 2D 

" I love thy kingly pose, 
I love thy regal nose, 
That blooming, blushing ro3c, 
King George, my King ! 

" I love thy beaming eyes, 
Now filled with glad surprise 
To see me thus arise, 
King George, my King ! 

" Dread liege, so good and pure, 
To make my love endure, 
Give me a sinecure, 

King George, my King !" 



" / give thee a sinecure ? 
I will see thee " 



"That is a plagiarism, your Majesty," cried 
Canning. " You are appropriating nry 'Needy 
Knife-Grinder.' " 

Here, Lord Francis Conyngham arose and 
asked silence for a song — or rather, for an ode, 
he should say. It was his own composition, he 
would state, and he hoped — te-hee ! — that the 
noble company present would experience as 
much pleasure in listening to it, as he had had 
in composing [it. In response to cries of "Go 
on!" the noble Lord closed his prefatory re- 
marks, and without further preamble began : 



26 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

" I've taken down my Rollin, 
I've read each storied page, 
I've noted every hero bright, 
In every clime and age. 

" I've noted every general 

And sage of great renown, 
I've noted every monarch 
Who ever wore a crown. 

" And of the whole assemblage, 
For glory bright and rare, 
I declare, upon my conscience, 

None with George IV. can compare. 

" There was Scipio Africanus, 
Confucius, Hannibal, 
And Richard of the Lion Heart, 
And Phizar-nabul-shal. 

" And there was Cleopatra, 
Ulysses, Robin Hood, 
Epaminondas, Cicero, 

And the Two Babes in the Wood. 

" And there was Nebuch " 



"Enough of this!" exclaimed the Duke of: 
Wellington. 

" Why, there are fifty-seven more verses," 
pleaded Lord Francis. 

"I said. Enough !" reiterated the Iron Duke, 



THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 2i 

in thunder tones, and Lord Francis disconsolate- 
ly took his seat. 

u I think it is very nice," whispered his Ma- 
jesty to him. "Come around in the morning, 
when lie is not here, and sing the rest of it to 
me." 

Here again a grating sonnd was heard, and 
Brougham, rising in his place, began, 

" My liege, my lord, my sovereign, King, 
Oh ! hearken now to me. 
I only ask a little thing, 
Grant me a subsidy. 

ik For this I'll raise my swelling sails, 
I'll plow the maddening sen, 
I'll carry the Pacific mails ; 
So grant this subsidy."^ 

U I can't stand this," exclaimed his Majesty, 
as he retired hastily but majestically from the 
banquet-hall, followed by his guests. The hero 
of Waterloo and of a hundred hard-f ought fields 
alone stood his ground. To him Brougham 
turned and continued, 

" 'Tis not for sake of wretched pelf 
That I put up this plea, 
I do not ask you for myself 
To get this subsidy. 



28 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

' 'Tis for my country's commerce' sake, 

That, on my bended knee, 
I ask you now to undertake 
To get this subsidy. 

11 Oh ! use your influence, my lord — 
And when you want your fee, 
Justjhelp yourself to Irwin's hoard — 
Get me this subsidy." 

The agonizing strains overpowered even the 
hardened hero, and, in his turn, he too fled. To 
follow where lie led was not to desert my post, 
and I escaped, while still ringing in my ears was 
that imploring voice, 

" I'll build more ships than heretofore — 
I'll build some two or three ; 
I ne'er in stocks will dabble more : 
Oh ! grant this subsidy.'' 



PUBLICATIONS 

OF 

A.. DEISTIIA.1V1 & CO., 

17 MURRAY STREET, near BROADWAY, 
NEW-YORK. 



PETER SCHLEMIHL, 

From the German of Adelbert vox Chamisso. Translated by Sir John 
Bowring. Illustrated with Eight Plates on India paper, by George] Cruik- 
ehank. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price, $2. Sent free by mail on receipt of price. 




He put his hand slowly in'o his pocket, and drew ovt by Vie hair the pale and 
ghastly form of TJwmas Jones." 



"One of the most remarkable talcs of modern limes."— Booksellers'' Guide. 



SIR WALTER SCOTT'S 

LIVES OF THE NOVELISTS, 

WITH NOTES. 

YZmo, 435 pp. Neatly printed on toned paper, Cloth extra, gilt top. Price, $2. 
Will be sent free by mail on receipt of price. 



From the New- York World. 

Messrs. A. Denbam & Co. deserve the thanks of every lover of our elder 
novelists.iof every lover of Sir Walter Scott and of entertaining biography, 
for having reprinted the Lives of the Novelists. There are fourteen lives con- 
tained in'this beautiful and compact volume of 436 pages. They appear in the 
following order : Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Cumberland, Goldsmith, Dr. 
Johnson, Sterne, Horace Walpole, Clara Reeve, Mrs. Radcliffe, Le Sage, Charles 
Johnstone, Robert Bage, and Henry Mackenzie. Half of these names arc 
known wherever the English language is spoken, and some of them, including 
the author of Gil Bias, are famous from one end of the field of letters to the 
other. 

From the New -York Tribune. 

A valuable contribution to a leading department of English literary history 
may be found in Denham & Co.'s reprint of Scott's Lives of the Novelists, a 
work of hijrh favor with a past generation, and challenging the interest of 
younger readers by the agreeable flow of its narrative, its profusion of anec- 
dote, and its sound and informing criticisms. The publishers have performed 
an excellent service in bringing it before the American public, from which it ia 
sure to meet with a cordial and appreciative reception. 

From the Philadelphia Age. 

It has a peculiar value in being an estimate of great novelists by one of their 
number, who, in fact, was the greatest of them all. * * * If any lover of 
literature is unacquainted with this work, let him make haste to get it, in this 
handsome edition. 

From the Boston Globe. 

An elegant edition. * * * The easy flow of Scott's narrative, the genial 
acuteness of his criticism, his robust good sense, and his healthy moral sense, 
arc apparent on every page of these delightful biographies. 

From the New- York Mail. 

A substantial, simple, and tasteful volume. * * * Furnishing, as they do, 
very pleasing biographical sketches of Sir Walter's best predecessors, rich in 
thought, profound in criticism, flowing in style, these essays are worthy to be 
preserved among the more pretentious writings of the delightful romancer, 
and the fine shape in which they are now presented will be appreciated by the 
lovers of literature. 

From the New- York Post. 

Sir Walter's Lives of the Novelists are accepted as among the best specimens 
of this kind of biographical composition in English literature, and we are glad 
to hail a new edition of it in so handsome a guise. 

From the Washington Chronicle. 

The publishers have rendered the reading public acceptable service in giving 
it this new issue of a very delightful and, of late, not often found book. * * * 
The reader will find a most delightful and entertaining feast spread before him 
in this book. 

From the Springfield Republican. 

* * * The book is sprinkled with amusing anecdotes and quotations. 
* * * It contains 436 neatly printed pages, and can not be spared from a 
complete library. 



THE 



MINOR POEMS OF HOIER. 

(The Battle of the Frogs and Mice, Hymns and Epigrams.) 

Translated by Parnell, Chapman, Shelley, Congreye, and Hole 
avith Introductions by Henry Nelson Coleridge, and a Trans- 
lation of the Life of Homer attributed to Herodotus. 

I2mo, handsomely printed on toned paper, cloth, extra, beveled edges 
Price, $1.50. Sent Free by Mail on Receipt of Price. 



From the Literary World. 

It was what Mr. Burnand would call a "happy thought" to gather the scat- 
tered translations of Homer's Minor Poems into one volume. * * " The 
Battle of the Frogs and Mice" is a mock-heroic poem, which seems to be a 
parody on the Iliad. The whole poem is full of wit, and Minerva's speech is 
deliciously funny. The translation, by Parnell, is admirable. Some of the 
hymns, despite their name, are very humorous— that to Mercury especially, in 
which the baby-god's theft of Apollo's oxen is amusingly described. * * 
Every admirer of Homer, and indeed of Greek literature, will welcome this 
collection of ancient verse, which, whether justly attributable to Homer or not 
possesses great intrinsic interest and value. The volume is beautifully printed 
and bound. 

From the Home" Journal. 

"The Minor Poems of Homer" is a welcome volume for those who would 
eee more of the " Blind old Bard " in English guise. It comprises the " Battle 
of the Frogs and Mice," in Parnell' s spirited version ; Chapman's stately, 
picturesque rendering of the," Hymn to Apollo;" Shelley's genial interpretation 
of the humor of the " Hymn to Mercury ;" Congreve's version of the beautiful 
"Hymn to Venus ;" Hole's translation of the "Hymn to Ceres," and Chap- 
man's translations of the Minor Hymns and Epigrams. These arc preceded 
by the "Life of Homer," attributed to Herodotus, and the various poems are 
accompanied by Introductions by Henry Nelson Coleridge. 

From the New-York Mail. 

* * All these are very remarkable productions, to the general reader as to 
the special student, and the publication of them in these fitting translations is 
an enterprise worthy of all praise. * * This volume is in thoroughly excel- 
lent shape. 

From the Portland Transcript. 

* * Homer is chiefly known by his great poems, the Iliad and Odyssey 
while his Minor Poems are but little known. H. N. Coleridge says • " It Is 
with the Homeric Hymns as it is with many of the plays and most of tlie minor 
pieces of Shakespeare : they are darkened by the excessive lustre of the sun- 
like poetry at their side, and are esteemed the less in proportion to the splen- 
dor of their reputed kindred." * * The best translations of these poems 
have hitherto been scattered through several works, and the publishers have 
sought, by uniting these versions in one volume, to present a convenient 
edition, which may be acceptable to those already acquainted with their beau- 
ties, and serve to bring them to the notice of many who have heretofore passed 
them by. They have certainly succeeded in presenting them in a very tasteful 
form, and the clear, open type, and heavy, tinted paper, show that cheapness 
in the getting up was no part of their arrangement, but a very moderate price 
for the work was. * * 

From the Christian Union. 

* * These unquestionable ancient works we are glad to see recalled in f?o 
pleasant a dress to the general re-ider. The translations have a quaint and 
stalely style, which invests the poems with an additional charm. 



THE WORKS IN PROSE AND VERSE 

or THE 

RT. HON. JOHN HOOKHAM FRERE, 

WITH MEMOIR BY SIR BARTLE FREUE. 

Second Edition, with Additions. 3 vols, crown 8vo. Handsomely 
printed, with numerous Head and Tail Pieces and Initial Let- 
ters, and two Portraits on Steel, engraved by Jeens. 

JPMICB, $7.50. 

Bound in half calf, extra, $13 ; Copies on large 

paper, in 8vo, price $12, 



Contents : Translations of Aristophanes ; from Theognis, from 
the Poema del Cid, from Homer, Euripides, Catullus, Lope de 
Vega, La Fontaine, Goethe, Monte-Mayor, etc. etc. ; The 
Monks and the Giants, a Poem, by Robert and William 
Whistlecraft ; Contributions to the Anti-Jacobin — The Pro- 
gress of Man, The Loves of the Triangles, The Rovers, etc. ; 
Miscellanies. 

Of " The Monks and the Giants," Byron says : "Mr. Whistlecraft has no 
greater admirer than myself. I have written a story in eighty-nine stanzas, in 
imitation of him, called 'Beppo.' n 

Of his Translations, the Pall Jtfall Gazette says : " They place Frcre in the 
very first rank of translators of the world. Indeed, Frere is the true standard 
by which to test every body who ventures on the same ground." 

Of his Translations of Aristophanes, The Nation says : "The mere English 
reader not only finds Aristophanes in these translations eminently readable 
and intelligible, but gets from them, with the comment by which they are 
accompanied, a clear view of the character and effect of the old Athenian 
comedy, as well as the fullest illustrations of the life, manners, and turn of 
thought of the Athenian people. . . . The satire of Aristophanes, if at 
times too coarse for our modern taste ; his wit, if too personal in its appli- 
cation ; his humor, if occasionally degenerating into extravagance, or mere 
broad fun, are redeemed and elevated by the exquisite poetry with which they 
are associated. Mr. Frere possessed an equal appreciation of his various 
merits, and has rendered with equal spirit and fidelity the lively repartee of the 
dialogue and the sustained boauty and picturesque imagery of the finer 
choruses. " 




&&&&£* 



&&§ 




THE 



BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 

Being Portions of tte 
JOURNAL 

OF 

CHARLES BIBBLE, Esq., 

First Valei-de-Chambre to the Head Cook of 
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, 

AND SUBSEQUENTLY 

Third IVaiter-in-Ordinary at the Table of His Majesty. 



A COMPANION VOLUME TO 
THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS. 



New- York : 
A. DENHAM & CO., 17 MURRAY STREET. 



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